Bottle-puzzle.



Aiforney Patented Mar. 12,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS XAVIER FAI-INDRICH, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. ASSIGNOR TO EDMUND FAHNDRICH, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

BOTTLE-PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 9, 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912. Serial No. 653,628.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS Xsvmn Fiumonicn, citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to what may be termed a bottle puzzle, a number of disconnected and disjoined elements being provided which are adapted to be inserted through the contracted neck of a transparent container and thereafter assembled within the container so as to form a symbolic or ornamental group, novel means being provided for closing the mouth of the container to retain the elements therein.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is very fascinating and entertaining, which has an educational valve, and which is ornamental and attractive in appearance.

lVith this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a detail view showing all of the various parts detached, the bottle or container being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the container with the various elements properly assembled therein.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

In carrying out the invention a bottle or transparent container 1 is provided, the said bottle being formed with a contracted mouth 2. A number of normally disjoined elements are provided which are adapted to be inserted singly through the contracted mouth 2 and thereafter assembled within the container 1 so as to form an ornamental or symbolic group. In the present instance the various elements after being assembled, as indicated in Fig. 2, form a display group which is symbolic of the crucifixion. A pair of intersecting cross bars 3 and l are first inserted into the container 1 and assembled on the bottom thereof, the said cross pieces being suitably notched at their intersection, as shown at 5, so as to provide a smooth joint and rest firmly upon the bottom of the container. These cross pieces are preferably of such a length that the ends thereof engage the sides of the container, thereby forming a base upon which the remaining elements can be positioned.

A hat pin or similar member may be employed for manipulating the elements within the container, and the various elements may have a small quantity of glue or other adhesive material applied to suitable portions thereof so that the said elements will be retained in their proper places. The upright standard 6 of the cross may next be inserted in position, the lower end of the standard being formed with a pin 7 which engages the cross pieces 3 and 4 at the intersection thereof, and the said standard being provided at a point toward the upper end thereof with a suitable notch 8 for engagement with a corresponding notch 9 in the cross arm which is subsequently placed in position.

The member 11 which is pendent from one end of the cross arm 1.0 is symbolic of the lantern which was carried into the gar den while the member 12 which is pendent from the opposite end of the cross arm is symbolic of the whip with the many lashes. The member 13 which rests upon the top of the cross arm at one end thereof represents the vinegar cup, while a hammer 14 and pincer-s 15 rest upon the top of the cross arm at the opposite end thereof. A ladder 16 leans against the front of the cross, and upon opposite sides of the ladder are the spear 17 and the reed 18 with the sponge 19 at the upper end thereof. Also resting upon the base are the members 20, 21 and 22 which are symbolic of the cock which crew upon the denial of Peter. the dice with which the multitude cast lots for Christ's garments, .and the skull and cross bones, respectively. As previously stated, these various elements are all inserted singly through the contracted mouth of the container and then properly assembled therein by means of some instrument such as a piece of wire or a hat pin.

After the elements have all been properly Q positioned, the mouth of the container is closed by a stopper 23 having an extension 2'- a at the inner end thereof which projects into the container and engages the upper locking key is placed in position is somewhat of a mystery to a casual observer. By reference to Fig. 1, however, it will be observed that the stopper 23 is formed with a transverse opening 25 and also with a longitudinal opening 26 which intersects the transverse opening and extends through to the upper or outer end of the stopper. A cord 27 is designed to be inserted through the longitudinal opening 26 and have the end thereof drawn through the transverse opening 25 and secured to the middle por tion of the key 24. This key is preferably slightly curved and is formed at one end thereof with a suitable nick 28 adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the cord. The key is dropped into the container in advance of the stopper 23, and after the stopper has been seated in position the cord 27 is pulled through the opening 26. Owing to the fact that this cord has been engaged by the nick 28, the end of the key 25% will be drawn into the opening 25 until the nick 28 comes opposite the longitudinal opening 26. A continued pull upon the cord will then draw the cord out of the nick so as to cause the same to pull the key through the transverse opening until the middle portion thereof to which the cord is secured is under the longitudinal opening 26. The cord may then be pulled out or broken and the upper end of the longitudinal opening 26 closed with a suitable plug. The stopper 23 can not be withdrawn without breaking the key 24 after the said key has once been drawn into position, and the various elements are held securely within the container by means of the stopper.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container formed with a contracted mouth, a series of disjoincd elements adapted to be inserted singly through the contracted mouth and thereafter assembled within the container into a connected group, and a stopper for closing the mouth of the container and holding the elements in position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container formed with a contracted mouth, a series of disjoined elements adapted to be inserted singly through the mouth of the container and thereafter assembled therein into a connected group, a stopper for closing the mouth of the con tainer, and a key for retaining the stopper in position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container formed with a contracted neck, a series of disjoined elements adapted to be inserted singly through the contracted neck and thereafter assembled within the container into a connected group, a stopper formed with a transverse opening adapted to close the mouth of the container, a key, and means for positioning the key within the transverse opening of the stopper after the stopper has been placed in position.

4;. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container formed with a contracted neck, a series of disjoined elements adapted to be inserted singly through the contracted neck and thereafter assembled within the container into a connected group, a stopper adapted to be inserted in the mouth of the container so .as to retain the elements in position, the said stopper being formed with intersecting longitudinal and transverse openings, a cord inserted through the longitudinal opening and extending through one end of the transverse opening, and a key having the end of the cord secured to an intermediate portion thereof and formed in one end thereof with a nick adapted to engage the cord so that the key can be drawn into the transverse opening by pulling upon the cord.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container formed with a contracted neck, a series of disjoined ele ments adapted to be inserted singly through the contracted neck and thereafter assembled within the container into a connected group, a stopper adapted to be inserted in the mouth of the container and formed with an extension adapted to project into the container and engage one of the elements, the said extension of the stopper being formed with intersecting. transverse and longitudinal openings, a cord through the longitudinal opening and extending through one end of the transverse opening, and a key having the inner end of the cord secured to an intermediate portion thereof and formed in one end thereof with inserted a nick for engaging the cord so that the F. XAVIER FAHNDRICH.

IVitnesses S. D. CLARK,

AGNES A. J OHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Qommissioner of IEatents. Washington, D. C. 

